Grip fitting ball gauge



June 16, 1964 A. JESONIS 3,137,074

GRIP FITTING BALL GAUGE Filed Sept. 7, 1962 5 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 86 88 5 W I 49 Jay/z INVENTOR. Alexander Jaw/75s ATTORNEYS A. JESONIS 3,137,074

GRIP FITTING BALL GAUGE June 16, ,1964

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 54 ray 1/ Filed Sept. 7, 1962 INVENTOR. flZexanaler l sands ATTORNEYS vUnited States Patent 3,137,074 FITTING BALL GAUGE Alexander .lesonis, 1105 Ewing Ave., Clearwater, Fla. .Filed Sept. 7, 1962, Ser. No. 222,124 .8 Claims. (Cl. 33-174) "The present invention relates to a ball gauge that simulates a bowling ball having finger holes for gripping the ball and more particularly to a ball gauge in which the finger holes are adjustable to fit an individuals grip so that the grip may then be duplicated in an actual bowling ball.

While the use of a ball gauge has heretofore been proposed for determining the finger holes in order to properly fit a bowling ballto an individuals grip, such heretofore devices have not been found completely satisfactory. One difiiculty is that the prior devices have been unable to provide sufficient adjustab ility of the finger holes in order that the best grip may therefore be determined. While another problem is that the finger holes could not be adjusted while the individuals fingers were in the holes. In determining the proper grip, numerous factors should be considered andthese include, first, the span, i.e. the distance between' the finger holes and particularly on a three finger grip, the thumb finger hole and the ring and middle finger holes, secondly, the diameter of each finger hole, thirdly, the pitch of the K finger holes, ie, the tilting of the axis of the thumb finger hole towards the other finger holes and vice versa, and fourthly, the side angle, the tilting of the axis of each finger hole perpendicularly to. the pitch tilting. Moreover, it is also desirable that the ball gauge be adjustable in weight so that the proper weight may be determined and in addition have a spherical shape with no protrusions so that the individual, when being fitted, may actually throwthe ball gauge without damage thereto.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a ball gauge that achieves the above objects and has substantially infinitely adjustable finger holes in order to effectuate the proper determination of an individuals grip. V j V A further object of the present invention is to provide a ball gauge in which the finger holes may be adjusted a substantially spherical hollow casing in which is mounted a pair of finger thimble supports. From a plurality of finger thimbles, each being substantially tubular but with a different internal diameter, a finger thimble of a size to fit the individuals thumb is selected and mounted on one support while a finger thimble ofa size selected to fit the middle finger and/or a thimble sized to fit the ring finger is mounted on the other support. According to the present invention, each thimble is mounted on its respective support in a manner to be pivoted at approximately the peripheryof the spherical arc of thecasing in a direction'which enables the pitch to be determined. Also the pivoted mounting of each thimble is such as to enable each thimble to be movable about an axis transverse to the pitch-tilting axis so that the side angle may thus be determined. With the thimbles mounted on the supports, the supports are moved relative to each other 7 to select the proper span between the thumb finger thimble and the other finger thimbles and then the pitch and side angle selections are made for each finger thimble.

3,137,974 Patented June 16, 1964 these adjustments have been made and the proper grip is thus selected, the thimbles are clamped with the plates remaining stationary and by employing a bowling ball drilling machine, such as disclosed in my copending US. application, Serial No. 110,018, filed May 15, 1961, now Patent No. 3,095,767, granted July 2, 1963, the finger holes may be exactly duplicated in an actual bowling ball.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is an axial section of the grip fitting ball gauge of the present invention. 3

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof. FIG. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detail view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 1 showing the ring and middle finger thimbles on their support.

FIG. 5 is a detail view taken on the line 55 of FIG. 1 showing the thumb finger thimble on its support.

FIG. 6. is a detail in section of the thimble clamping structure.

FIG. 7 is a detail, partly in section, of the pitch determining structure for a finger thimble.

FIG. 8 is a section taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 4 showing pitch adjusting structure. a

FIG. 9 is a detail of the thumb finger thimble mount with a thimble shown in dotted lines in two positions and with an indication of the movability of the thimble on thesupport.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the thumb finger thimble mount. i

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of amount for either the middle or ring finger thimble.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a finger thimble.

FIG. 13 is a side view of a finger thimble.

Referring to the drawing, the grip fitting ball gauge of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and includes a spherical casing 21 preferably cast of metal, such as aluminum, to be hollow and formed with an opening 22 having the substantial extent shown. Within the casing 21 there are located four inwardly projecting bosses 23a, 23b, 23c and 23d with each having an aperture 24 through which passes a bolt 25. The bolts 25 secure ears 26 to the bosses 23a and 23b, with the ears 26 being formed on an outwardly extending plate 27 while the bosses 23c and 23d have secured thereto by similar bolts 25, ears 28 formed on another outwardly extending plate 29.

The plates 27 and 29 have a shaft 30 extending therethrough with the shaft having a head end 31 and a threaded end 32 on which is threaded a nut 33. The shaft is made 1 fast to the plates 27 and 29 by the nut and also by pins After 35 extending from the head end 31 into the plate 23. The plates 27 and 29 are thus fixed to the casing 21 and secured thereon to extend therebetween adjacent the periphery of the casing is a substantially fiat finger thimble support 34. Also mounted on the shaft 30 but for relative rotation thereon, is a pair of spaced outwardly extending plates 36 and 37 which carry a thumb finger thimble support 38. The two supports 34 and 38 are movable with respect to each other by the support 38 being able to pivot with the plates 36 and 37 on the shaft 30 while the support 34 is fixed.

For effecting said pivotal movement but preventing pivotal movement unless so effected there is provided a gear 39 rotatably mounted on the shaft 30 and connected by pins 40 to the plates 36 and 37 while bushings 41 cooperating therewith maintain the plates 36 and 37 in axially spaced relation. For rotating the gear 39 to pivot the support 38, there is provided a worm 42 mounted in a housing 43 depending from the bearings 41 and having a slotted drive shaft 44 that extends through a tube 45 and access is had to the drive shaft 44 through an opening 46 formed in the casing. Accordingly, a screw driver for example when inserted through the opening 46 to engage the shaft 44 will effectuate rotation of the gear 39 causing pivotal movement of the thimble support 38 to thereby adjust the span between the two thimble supports 34 and 38. It will be appreciated that the shaft 30 is substantially on the center of the casing and hencethe support 38 will pivot about an are that corresponds to the arc of the spherical casing.

Referring to FIG. 11, there is shown a finger thimble mount 47 having a slot 48 and spaced hooks 49. The finger thimble support 47 is mounted onthe edge of the finger thimble support 34 by the hooks 49 overlying the arcuate edge portion 50 of the support. Moreover, the mount 47 may be adjusted on the support 34 at the most desirable position thereof. In addition, the support 34 has mounted thereon, when the grip to be determined is a three finger grip, i.e. thumb, ring and middle finger, another finger thimble mount 47a of identical construction to mount 47. Thus, as shown in the particular embodiment herein described, the support 34- carries a ring finger thimble 51 and a middle finger thimble 52 by the mounts 47 and 47a respectively. It will be understood that the two mounts 47 and 47a are adjustably positionable on the arcuate edge portion 50 and hence the distance between the two finger thimbles 51 and 52 may thus be adjusted for the individuals grip.

A thumb thimble mount 53 is shown in perspective in FIG. and it has books 54 for overlying the arcuate edge portion of the thumb finger thimble support 38. Moreover, in view of the ball gauge of the present invention being employed to determine the grip for either a right or left hand, there are provided slots 55 for the former and 55a for the latter, with each slot being similar to the slot 48. A thumb finger thimble 56 is mounted on the mount 53 in a manner hereinafter set forth.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, each finger thimble 51 and 52 including the thumb finger thimble 56 is essentially a tube 57 having an internal diameter 57a and an external periphery 57b With a. pin 57c extending outwardly from the top edge portion of the thimble.

In carrying out the present invention it is anticipated that there will be a numerous size of finger thimbles available each having a different internal diameter 57a so that the individual may select the internal diameter most suited for each finger, however each will have the pin 57c and be of a substantially constant height. Each of the finger thimbles 51, 52 and 56 is mounted on their respective mounts 47, 47a and 53 by the pin simliar to 570 of each being positioned within the respective slots 48 or 55 for a right-handed grip or 55a for a left-handed With the thimbles thus supported in their mounts on the supports 34 and 38 it will be appreciated, as shown in FIG. 8, that each finger thimble may be pivoted about its pin on an axis perpendicular to the support to set the side angle and in addition by reason of the pin being relatively small, the thimble may be pivoted about an axis parallel with the support to set the pitch with both pivotal movements being about the pin which is at the entrance of the finger thimble and substantially on the spherical arc of the casing. It will be appreciated that the pin of the thimble thus has substantially only a single point contact between said thimble and said support and thus the axes of both pivotal movements are substantially about this same point contact. The pivotal movement about an axis parallel to the plate, as shown in FIG. 7, is effected by a pitch determining bar 58 for the thimbles 51 and 52 that is pivotally mounted on a pair of flanges 59 and 60, the latter being formed on the support 34 adjacent the plates 27 and 29 respectively. The pitch bar 58, referring to FIG. 8, includes an angle 61 having athreaded aperture 62 in which an adjustment screw 63 is threaded to bear against the support 34. Thus by rotation of the adjustment screw 63, the pitch bar 58 may be pivoted, as shown in FIG. 7, to engage the bottom portion of each of the finger thimbles to set the position for the pitch of the thimbles that is most desirable for the individuals grip. The movement caused by the pitch bar 58 of each thimble is about the pin of each thimble.

Similarly, the thumb fin'ger'thimble 56, as shown in FIG. 5, also has a pitch determining bar 64 pivoted as at 65 on a flange 66 depending from the support 38 while its other end carries a gear 67 driven by a worm 68 with the worm being fast on a shaft 69; Entrance of a screw driver or other toolfor effecting rotation of the shaft 69 by means of an end slot 70 formed therein is gained through an opening 71 in the casing. Thus rotation of the shaft 69 will determine the pitch for the thumb finger thimble 56.

t The side angle for each finger thimble is determined by the pivotal movement of the thimble about an. axis perpendicular to its support as graphically illustrated in FIG. 9 by the arrow 72. After such determination, the thimble is locked against the support and its associated pitch bar by an arcuate clamp 73 carried by a bolt 74 threaded in an angle bracket 75, as particularlyshown in FIG. 6. It will be appreciated that there is a clamp 73 for the thumb finger thimble 56 and a clamp 76 and 77 for the ring and middle finger thimbles 51 and 52 respectively, the latter two being mounted on individual angle brackets 78 and 79 secured to the support 34 while the formeris mounted on the support 38 for movement therewith. Moreover, in order to mate the clamp with its associated thimble, ealch angle bracket includes a pivot between its two legs as indicated by the reference characters 75a, 78a and 79a.

With the above structure of a grip fitting ball gauge, it will be appreciated'th'at rotation of the shaft 44 provides for adjustment of the span of the grip between the thumb and the finger thimbles, that pivoting of the pitch bars by the adjustment'screw 63 or shaft 69' provides for pitch adjustment of the thimbles while the mounting of the pin of each thimble in the slot of its respective mount enables the side angle to be adjusted. After the selection of these factors to provide the desired grip, the finger thimbles are locked in position by their associated clamps 73', 76 and 77.

As bowling balls difier in weight, the present invention of a ball gauge also provides for adjusting the weight of the ball gauge to permit selection of the weight desired. To this end, there is provided a threaded rod 80 mounted to depend from the housing 43 and having positioned thereon a plurality of weights 81, each being a substantially circular disk and provided with a slot 82 and a handle 83. A nut 84 accessible through an opening 85 in the casing clamps the weights on the rod yet permits the releasing of the weights on the rod for addition or removal of weights.

In order to maintain the spherical arc of the casing in the areas of the opening 22 to aid in the determination of the-proper grip, the support 34 has secured thereto additionally spaced parallel plates 86 and 87 while support 38 has secured thereon plate 88. The plates 27, 36, 86, 88, 87, 37 and 29 (FIG. 3) are alternately intermeshed and are formed to have their exterior surface curved to conform with the spherical arc of the casing, thus forming a spherical surface between the supports 34 and 38 irrespective of the span between the supports.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, it will be appreciated that the supports 34 and 38 also have their exterior edge portion arcuate to conform with the spherical arc of the casing and in addition the mounts 47 and 53 likewise are arcuately curved. Moreover, the adjustments in the ball gauge of the present invention are all located within the spherical arc of the casing and hence there is no minimized distortion of the settings of the finger thimbles or damage to the ball gauge when the ball gauge is thrown to aid in determining the proper grip as there are no protruding parts.

It will accordingly be appreciated that there has been disclosed a ball gauge by which each of the finger holes may be adjusted in order to provide the most desirable grip for an individual. The finger holes are formed in finger thimbles which may be adjusted as to span and the thumb and finger thimbles may also be adjusted for pitch and side angle and thereafter locked in position so that the holes in the thimbles may be subsequently duplicated in a bowling ball.

1 Variations and modifications may be made Within the scope of the claims and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

I claim: 1. A grip fitting ball gauge comprising a hollow spherical casing having at least one opening formed therein, a

pair of supports, means mounting the supports within the casing in the opening thereof for adjusting movement relative to each other whereby the arcuate span between the supports may be adjusted, a tubular finger thimble, means forpivotally mounting the thimble on one support for movement about a first axis and a second axis transverse to the first axis, said means including substantially only a single point contact between said thimble and support with the axes of both movements being substantially about said single point contact, a second tubular'finger thimble, means for pivotally mounting the second'thimble on the other support for movement about a first axis and a second axis transverse to the first axis, said means including substantially only a single point contact between said second thimble and other support with the axes of both movements being substantially about said single point contact, both of said single point contacts being substantially on the arc of the spherical casing, and means for clamping both thimbles to their respective supports after pivotal adjustment on the first axis for side angle and the second axis for pitch for each of the thimbles.

2. A grip fitting ball gauge comprising a hollow spherical casing having at least one opening formed therein, a

pair of supports, means pivotally mounting the supports within the casing in the opening thereof for adjusting movement relative to each other about an axis extending substantially through the center of the spherical casing whereby the arcuate span between the supports may be adjusted, a tubular finger thimble, means for pivotally mounting the thimble on one support for movement about a first axis and a second axis transverse to the first axis, said means including substantially only a single point contact betweensaid thimble and support with the axes of both movements being substantially about said single point contact, a second tubular finger thimble, means for pivotally mounting the second thimble on the other sups port for movement about a first axis and a second axis transverse to the first axis, said means including substantially only a single point contact between said second thimble and other support with the axes of both movements being substantially about said single point contact, the single point contacts of both thimbles being substantially on the arc of the spherical casing, and means for clamping both thimbles to their respective support after pivotal adjustment on the first axis for side angle and the second axis for pitch for each of the thimbles.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which the means for pivotally mounting each thimble on its respective support includes forming a slot on one and a pin on the other with the pin and slot forming the single point contact for each thimble.

4. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which each finger thimble is elongated, the single point contact is adjacent one end of the thimble, and the means for adjusting the movement of the thimble about the second axis includes a bar pivotally mounted on the support to be movable against the other end of the thimble.

5. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which the means for clamping includes a member engageable with the thimble, and means for movement of the member against the thimble to contain the thimble between the support and the member.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which the means for pivotally mounting the supports includes a shaft, one of said supports being fast on said shaft and the other support being pivotally supported, and adjusting means connected to the other support and including a gear connected to the support and a worm gear cooperating therewith.

7. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which there are weight means and means with the casing for releasably holding the weight means.

8. The invention as defined in claim 2 in which there are three finger thimbles, means for independently pivotally mounting two finger thimbles on one support, said means being movable on the support with respect to each other whereby the space between the two finger thimbles may be adjusted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A GRIP FITTING BALL GAUGE COMPRISING A HOLLOW SPHERICAL CASING HAVING AT LEAST ONE OPENING FORMED THEREIN, A PAIR OF SUPPORTS, MEANS MOUNTING THE SUPPORTS WITHIN THE CASING IN THE OPENING THEREOF FOR ADJUSTING MOVEMENT RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER WHEREBY THE ARCUATE SPAN BETWEEN THE SUPPORTS MAY BE ADJUSTED, A TUBULAR FINGER THIMBLE, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE THIMBLE ON ONE SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS AND A SECOND AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE FIRST AXIS, SAID MEANS INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY ONLY A SINGLE POINT CONTACT BETWEEN SAID TIMBLE AND SUPPORT WITH THE AXES OF BOTH MOVEMENTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT SAID SINGLE POINT CONTACT, A SECOND TUBULAR FINGER THIMBLE, MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE SECOND THIMBLE ON THE OTHER SUPPORT FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A FIRST AXIS AND A SECOND AXIS TRANSVERSE TO THE FIRST AXIS, SAID MEANS INCLUDING SUBSTANTIALLY ONLY A SINGLE POINT CONTACT BETWEEN SAID SECOND THIMBLE AND OTHER SUPPORT WITH THE AXES OF BOTH MOVEMENTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY ABOUT SAID SINGLE POINT CONTACT, BOTH OF SAID SINGLE POINT CONTACTS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY ON THE ARC OF THE SPHERICAL CASING, AND MEANS FOR CLAMPING BOTH THIMBLES TO THEIR RESPECTIVE SUPPORTS AFTER PIVOTAL ADJUSTMENT ON THE FIRST AXIS FOR SIDE ANGLE AND THE SECOND AXIS FOR PITCH FOR EACH OF THE THIMBLES. 